This tutorial will show you how to make custom image based modules in Fireworks using masking techniques aimed at the Luhs template design. Navigate to your downloaded package to the Graphic Source Files folder and open custom_module_graphic.png in Fireworks.

If you would like to see a video of this tutorial as well you can download the QuickTime movie here. Small 640x480 (1.5 mb) Large H.264 1080 (13.5 mb)

You will see a screen similar to this one. (click for larger)

Choose the SubSelect tool.

Draw a box over the shape just large enough to select the corner nodes as shown below.

The corner nodes are sub-selected.

Hold down Shift to keep the mouse straight or use the arrow keys to resize the shape vertically.

The shape is resized.

Choose the select tool.

and select the top shape.

Choose Edit > Cut. The shape is loaded onto the clipboard.

Select the image and resize it. (Cmd+T) You can temporarily lower the opacity in the layers palette to see the underlying shape.

Once resized, choose Modify > Mask > Paste as Mask.

You can return the opacity back up.

Use the text tool to add some graphic text to the image.

Select all by choosing (Cmd+A) , then right click the graphic and choose "Insert Rectangular Slice"

Whwn the popup appears asking you to choose Single or Multiple slices, choose "Single".

Name the slice in the properties palette to "custom_mod" *If not shown choose Window > Properties to show the palette.

The last step is to export the image to a place on your local computer by choosing File > Export.

Choose "Images Only" and make sure the name of the file is "custom_mod.png"

To convert to a module just log in to your Joomla admin console and choose New.

Paste the code below into the editor ( in html edit mode) with these settings and save. Show Title = No Published = Yes

Email marketing service iContact announced the winners of their API Challenge, a contest for partners and customers of iContact that asked them to build an integration between third party applications and iContact.

2nd place was given to Joomlashack, a team of designers, developers and technicians in the Joomla community, which came up with JContact. They received $2,000 cash. Barrie North, a user and designer of JContact explained: “We have been long-time fans of iContact. We built a component called JContact that leverages the new iContact API to integrate Joomla registration with iContact, and uses best industry opt-in practices to do so. We also gave it away for free!”

Setting up JContact to work in your Joomla is a several step process. To get the maximum benefit of the iContact API, you need to enable the JContact component in your iContact account and enter some settings into the JContact Joomla component.

You will then need to enable the component for the API in your iContact account. To do this you will see a link, highlighted below. First log into your iContact account and then click or browser to that URL.

Note that the API URL can be changed to work with the iContact dev sandbox should you wish. For now, just leave that URL as is.

Once at iContact, you will need to give the application (i.e. JContact) a name, and make sure you are enabling it for the 2.0 API.. Remember your API username and password, the key and then click on the link to enable the AppId.

You can now go back to you settings screen and enter in the values from iContact for the username, password and Key.

Then click save!

Once you have saved this information, you should be able to click on choose and a box will pop up with your iContact lists. If you get an error here, there is some sort of problem communicating with the iContact API, Check your passwords etc.

By default, all registered users will get added to your selected list. You can add a field that gives users the option of whether they want to sign up or not.

At this point you should also create a registration email that will take the place of the core Joomla one.

The last step is to create a link to the special registration page.

JContact must use its own registration page to rather than the core Joomla one in order to work properly. You can create a menu item to the component as normal.

Note, that if someone happens upon your Joomla core registration page and uses that, they won't interact with iContact. Site visitors can possibly stumble across this from the login module/form. You might want to consider a template override to change that link, or an htaccess redirect.

There are a few people whose every word I follow and try to incorporate into my business, and Brian Clark of CopyBlogger.com and Teaching Sells is one of them.

In 2008, Brian launched his Teaching Sells course. A complete guide to setting up and running and online paid membership websites. It was insanely popular, I joined up right when his doors opened, and so did people like Aaron Wall (of SEO Book).

After 2 rounds of students, Brian closed his doors and has been busy improving it, until now, when he has opened them up again. He only has 500 spots, and I reckon this course will soon be full and you'll have missed your chance. His last round sold out the 300 spots at $997 a pop in about 48 hours!

Open Source means that anyone can contribute to the code, improve it, or distribute it. This means the platform is a living project being created and improved by a community of developers all over the world.

A content management system uses a database to place content into designated places on the web page. Its dynamic and in real time.

Let's look at a forum as an example

Joomla works the same way, the template creates "buckets" or "placeholders" for content, and then the CMS pours content into them as needed.

Here, the articles are being dynamically generated as well as the bottom lists of links.

Since 2005, Joomlashack has been a leading supplier of free and commercial Joomla templates, Joomla extensions, and Joomla Training. Joomlashack.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Joomla! Project or Open Source Matters. The Joomla! name and logo is used under a limited license granted by Open Source Matters the trademark holder in the United States and other countries.